Texas

[TammyTX]

Since you are getting birds for pets and eggs, I would like to recommend you buy good birds from a real breeder.  Most people would think, "Why do I need to buy that kind of bird instead of a hatchery bird?"  It is because your birds will be pets and you will get attached to them.  I would recommend you buy a quality bird that has a good chance to live a long productive life with you.

Hatchery birds lay early and stop early.  They are prone to being egg bound because of their body shape.  They are narrow depth wise and width wide.  There is just not a lot of room for all the internal organs in a hen built like that so they have issues.  

I want to add, once you see what a real standard of perfection bird looks like in person, you will never forget it.  I sold some culls to a lady on BYC, she was amazed at how large they were and they were just a few months old.  She said they were larger than her full grown hatchery hens.  

I have had very good luck health/egg laying with Murray McMurray hatchery. Also, there are some "breeders" who buy from hatcheries then resell. This happened to me with some welsummers I bought a few months ago.

My MM birds are not show quality but good layers w/o problems...my five year olds are still laying.

 

[Texasmja]

I have had very good luck health/egg laying with Murray McMurray hatchery. Also, there are some "breeders" who buy from hatcheries then resell. This happened to me with some welsummers I bought a few months ago.

My MM birds are not show quality but good layers w/o problems...my five year olds are still laying.

I am glad you have had such good luck!

When I first got back into chickens I was scammed by a person who said they were a breeder and sold me some eggs from "show stock". There are lots of liars and scammers everywhere. All I can do is help others by sharing information, each person chooses their own path.

 

[TammyTX]

I know what you mean. See my avatar....? Those are MY chickens eggs but someone in GA had been using my photo to sell their eggs and chicks on Craigslist.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Since you are getting birds for pets and eggs, I would like to recommend you buy good birds from a real breeder. Most people would think, "Why do I need to buy that kind of bird instead of a hatchery bird?" It is because your birds will be pets and you will get attached to them. I would recommend you buy a quality bird that has a good chance to live a long productive life with you.

Hatchery birds lay early and stop early. They are prone to being egg bound because of their body shape. They are narrow depth wise and width wide. There is just not a lot of room for all the internal organs in a hen built like that so they have issues.

I want to add, once you see what a real standard of perfection bird looks like in person, you will never forget it. I sold some culls to a lady on BYC, she was amazed at how large they were and they were just a few months old. She said they were larger than her full grown hatchery hens.

Where do you get birds from then? I know people on here sell, but I'm not sure I can get all the breeds I want here. Then I have to QT them all before putting them together since they would be from different sources.

I have had very good luck health/egg laying with Murray McMurray hatchery. Also, there are some "breeders" who buy from hatcheries then resell. This happened to me with some welsummers I bought a few months ago.

My MM birds are not show quality but good layers w/o problems...my five year olds are still laying.

I'll look into MM Hatchery.


I really just want chickens. I don't need show birds. I do want them to be healthy though. MOst people I know that have them got them from the local feed store. They get their birds form all over the place. Mostly NM though.

 

[TammyTX]

MM has a minimum of 15 chicks in the warm months....25 in cooler months. They are in Iowa I believe.

 

[Texasmja]

Where do you get birds from then? I know people on here sell, but I'm not sure I can get all the breeds I want here. Then I have to QT them all before putting them together since they would be from different sources.

What breeds do you like?

If you do not want show birds you can still buy quality birds that are not show material. A REAL breeder's culls are still better than any hatchery bird you can buy. Breeder culls are not expensive as you are thinking.

Some real breeders will sell you chicks, so no quarantine.

If you can come to the show in College Station next month, there will be breeders from all over Texas there. You can talk to them about purchasing chicks or culls from their stock. There will also be birds for sale.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

What breeds do you like?

If you do not want show birds you can still buy quality birds that are not show material. A REAL breeder's culls are still better than any hatchery bird you can buy. Breeder culls are not expensive as you are thinking.

Some real breeders will sell you chicks, so no quarantine.

If you can come to the show in College Station next month, there will be breeders from all over Texas there. You can talk to them about purchasing chicks or culls from their stock. There will also be birds for sale.

I want to get:
Buckeye
Black Australorp
Welsummer
Black Copper Maran
EE/Ameraucana

Total of 5 birds.

I looked into MMH and they don't have all the birds I want. I did however, find another chicken to add to my list of birds to one day have. This really is like eating potato chips!

I can't make it to the show in College Station.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Sitting in the retina Dr's office.This is always a long visit. Mom is 95 and forgets why we are here. At least the weather is warmer and the rain let up for the drive into Aystin.

 

[hensfortherapy]

Austin. Big fingers. I almost left the house with an egg in my coat pocket. That could have been messy.
Hung. I have actually had to use half of an egg when I halved a recipe. I just beat it and then measured it and used only half in the recipe.

 

[TammyTX]

Sitting in the retina Dr's office.This is always a long visit. Mom is 95 and forgets why we are here. At least the weather is warmer and the rain let up for the drive into Aystin.

...and at 95 she has earned the right to forget!!

Do you ever look at photos on the internet from 95 years ago. It's amazing the things your mother has experienced during her lifetime.